How to get the most out of my Linksys WRT54GS

Your wireless connection should be able to keep pace with your internet connection, but there are some caveats. This info is fairly easy to find, but since I've been through several instances of the same problem in customers' homes, I'll fill you in.


1) The theoretical speed of your wifi access point is the maximum throughput of all (simultaneous) connections established between the access point and the wireless devices connected to it. This finite bandwidth is divided among all connected clients. More devices (ipod, laptop, roku, etc.) means less speed available per device.

2) That maximum speed is determined using no encryption. A smart user is most assuredly using WPA2 encryption to keep his network, and the machines on it, safe. This encryption increases the overhead on the wireless network, so there is less bandwidth available for use. Lighter encryption=faster speed=less security; heavier encryption=slower speed=better security.

3) The access point is probably not the only device using the 2.4GHz ISM band nearby. Cordless phones; bluetooth keyboards, mice, and headsets; microwave ovens; neighbors' wifi networks: these are all things competing for, and introducing noise into, the wireless spectrum your access point is operating within. Setting the wireless channel in your access point to Auto, or testing the channels one at a time may help to find a less noisy frequency to run on, and may improve your wireless performance.

4) Location of the access point and the orientation of it's movable antennae can cause performance problems with any wireless device. Generally, the higher you mount the device, and the further from other electronics, the better. The radio-frequency (RF) signal coming from your access point is greatly effected by metal, moisture, and large, inanimate solids. RF is considered a line-of-sight communication medium, so the clearer the path between two nodes, the better. Placing your access point on a high shelf or on top of your entertainment center may help. Getting it out of the corner or out from the wall a bit may help, as well. Believe it or not, some drywall/wallboard has a metal foil layer which can seriously degrade wireless performance and even make it hard to get cellular signal in your home.

5) Wireless mode (802.11B-only, B&G, G-only) effects performance as well. Running a mixed-mode network, such as 802.11 B&G mode, absolutely slows wireless performance. If all your devices are 802.11G or better, then run in G-only mode. If you must run a mixed network, then re-consider using a wired connection for your bandwidth-intensive devices or upgrading to a router with multiple radios.

There you have it. I'm really curious what you're using that takes so much bandwidth, though. 30Mb/s is lust-worthy to many, but even 10Mb/s was more than adequate for all my HD streaming in the living room. I've moved to a new area where, brace yourself, 1.5Mb/s ADSL is the only thing available, and even that usually serves my streaming needs well enough that I don't notice visual artifacts on the 55" 1080p meter-breaker. But hey, if you have 10, 15, or 30Mb available, why not have it. Sure makes downloading movie purchases/rentals, podcasts, and open-source software speedy as hell. And you don't have to stop uploads/downloads when the (Vonage) phone rings.